Knock-down shelf construction



July 17, 1962 M. A. OZTEKIN 3,044,634

KNOCK-DOWN SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 U5 1 ENTOR.

% 4; Mudmmer Oztem'r/ Flttbrneys July 17, 1962 M. A. OZTEKIN 3,044,634

KNOCK-DOWN SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. Mudmmer 1Q. oztekirz,

United States Patent 3,944,634 KNGQK-DGWN CQNSTRUCTIQN Muammer A.@ztekin, 3931 1st Ave. S., Birmingham, Ala. Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser.No. 25,729 1 Claim. ((11. 211-143) This invention relates to knock-down,se1fsupporting shelf construction and has for an object the provision ofshelving particularly adapted for the display of merchandise in storessuch as supermarkets, department stores and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide shelving of-the characterdesignated in which the shelf units proper are fabricated from sidemembers and a panel, both of which require only minimum forming,bending, notching, and other operations, resultingin shelving which isextremely simple to manufacture and even simpler to erect.

A more specific object is to provide shelf construction in which thesuppoiting brackets for the shelves proper are provided with inturnedhorizontal flanges and in which the shelf panel is secured to thehorizontal flanges by spot welding or otherwise, thereby eliminating theexpensive, complicated and unsightly appearance of prior shelving inwhich the shelf panel was bent over at the ends and secured to thevertical side portions of the supporting brackets.

My invention also contemplates improved knock-down, adjustable shelvingin which the supporting brackets are so constructed that the rear edgesof the shelves are spaced away from the posts by an amount to permit afull length, full width back panel to be removably secured in bracketssupported on the posts by the Simple expedient of dropping the bracketsand the back panels in place after assembly of the shelf units to theposts.

A more general object is to provide knock-down, adjustable shelvingstructure which may be completely assembled without the use of any toolswhatsoever, including the assembly of the back panels and theirattaching brackets, and which shall be extremely strong and readilyadjustable to accommodate articles of different heights to be placed onthe shelves.

Shelf construction illustrating features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevational view of a pluralityof assembled shelf units;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental detail sectional view taken generally along line2-2 of KG. 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a detail fragmental and sectional view drawn to a stillfurther enlarged scale and showing a portion of the rear or connectingpart of the upper or intermediate shelf supporting bracket;

KG. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the assembled shelving taken at oneof the posts and looking generally in the direction of the lines 4-4- ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a detail fragmental sectional view taken generally along line5-5 of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 6 is a detail fragmental sectional view taken transversely throughone of the shelf panels for one of the intermediate units.

In general, my improved shelf construction may embody a base shelf unitA and a plurality of intermediate or upper shelf units B. It will beunderstood that my improved shelving may embody any practical number ofthe units B above the base unit A. Further, the units l3 preferably areidentical in construction.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my inventionand particularly to FIG. 1, my improved shclving may embody a series ofposts it) which in practice preferably are rectangular tubes. In thefront sides of the posts, namely, on the sides viewed when may beinternally braced by a member 14. Further,

each frame may have locking lugs 16 and other lugs 17 spaced to lit inthe slots 11 in the posts 10. Spanning the frames 12 is the base panelmember 18 which maybe a sheet of steel or the like and which issupported by the upper horizontal members of the frames 12 and the crossmembers 13. A front or kick panel 19 may be provided and may look into aseries of holes in the vertical members 12 of the frames 12 by means ofhooks 21. The frames 12 may be provided with leveling screws 22. i

The intermediate and upper shelf units B each comprise a unitaryprefabricated structure which may be attached to the posts as will nowbe explained. Thus, each of the shelf units B comprises a pair of sidesupporting brackets indicated generally by the numeral 23 and each ofwhich embodies a horizontal leg 24 and a vertical leg 26. As willpresently appear, the horizontal leg 24 is slightly shorter at the rearend of the brackets 23 than the leg 26'.

At the rear end each supporting bracket 23 is provided with an upperhook 27 and a lower lllg 28 so spaced as to lit in the slots 11 of theposts. It will further be noted that the vertical leg 26 of each of thesupporting brackets 23 is vertically elongated at the rear end, therebyto provide a good bearing area for the rear edge 29 against the side ofthe post.

The panels for the intermediate and upper shelves B may be sheets ofsteel "or like material indicated generally by the numeral 31. It willbe noted that each of the panels 31 is formed from a sheet of materialwithout the necessity of any notching or without the necessity ofleaving any extensions along any of its four sides. Further, the frontand back edges may be identically formed for strengthening. .Thus, thefront and back edges of each panel 31 is bent downwardly to provide askirt 32, thence horizontally at 33 and upwardly at 34. These dependingchannel shapes provide considerable strength for the panels and likewisethe vertical skirts 32 provide means for attaching the usual pricemarking card holders, not shown. Each panel 31 may be furtherstrengthened by longitudinally extending shaped members 36 which arespot welded or otherwise secured to the under surface of each of thepanels.

Along their side edges the panels 3.. may be secured to the horizontalflanges 2 2- of the brackets 23 by spot welding as indicated at 37. Itwill be noted that the panels 31 extend full width between the innerfacing surfaces of the vertical legs 26 of the side brackets 23.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, it will be seen that the rear edge ofeach of the intermediate and upper panels is spaced away from thenotched side of the post 10 a distance to provide for the reception ofthe vertically extending back panels 38.

or holder indicated generally by the numeral 39'. The holder 39 isformed with a transversely disposed section to fit about the sides ofthe posts and further is provided with channel-shaped sections 41 orsockets which lie alongside the front surfaces of the post. It willfurther be noted from consideration of FIG. 2 that the holders 39 arelong enough to rest on the panels 18 of the base shelf unit A.Therefore, and as will be explained, after the shelving is entirelyassembled the holders 39 may Patented July-17, 1962:

The frames 12 may be con.-

The back panels are held in place between the posts 10 by means of anelongated clip 3 be dropped in place and then the panels 38 may beinstalled by sliding them downwardly. The panels 38 are long enough sothat they retain the clips and hold them spread apart, in contact withand securely against the posts.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and assembling my improvedknock-down shelving may now be explained and understood. Commencing withthe required number of side frames 12, these are first installed inpairs by locking them into the selected holes in a pair of the posts 10.The cross members 13 are now connected by snapping suitable lugs intosuitable holes provided in the upper frame members of the units 12,these not being shown. The panel 18 is now laid in place and then thekick panel 19 is put in place by engaging the locking lugs 21 insuitable holes, not shown, provided in the members 12*".

The intermediate shelves are now locked in place by holding their outeredges upwardly relative to the posts and locking the upper locking lugs27 in a suitable one of the slots 10, the lugs 28 being spaced to fallinto another one of said slots. Having now erected the desired number ofunits of shelving the holders 39 are slid down the posts, the channelshaped parts thereof occupying the space between the front of the postand rear edge of the panels 31. The panels 38 are now put in placesimply by sliding them vertically downwardly with their vertical sideedges fitting in the sockets or channels 41 of the holders 39. Ifdesired, a cover strip shown at 42 in FIG.

1 may be installed over the upper ends of the posts to cover theopenings. Finally, the entire shelving is leveled by means of the screws22 threadedly connected to the lower part of frame 12.

It is to be especially noted that the entire unit may be erected withoutthe use of any tools or fastenings whatever. Further, when so erected myimproved shelving is extremely strong, even though the intermediate andupper units are of the cantilever type. By securing the shelf panels 31to the horizontal legs 24 of side brackets 23, I am enabled to form thepanels 31 of simple, rectangular sheets. Further, the intermediate andupper shelf units may be removed and raised or lowered withoutdisturbing the back panels or the clips or holders 39. That is, the backpanels 38 are independent of any of the shelf units themselves andtherefore in minimum time, and without disturbing the back panels 38,the spacing of the shelves may be changed to suit the needs of the user.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In shelf construction, a pair of laterally spaced vertical posts, a baseshelf unit extending between the posts and having a horizontal shelfpanel with the rear edge substantially in contact with the front of eachpost, an upper shelf unit supported on each side of the posts with theback edges thereof spaced from the front of the posts, a pair of facingelongated back panel holding members secured to the posts and havingelongated channel-shaped sockets located in the space between the rearedges of the upper shelf units, the lower ends of said holdersterminating substantially adjacent the upper surface of the lower shelfpanel, and vertically extending back panels extending between the postsand having their vertical side edges engaged slidably in the socketmembers of said holders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS836,045 Melchior Nov. 13, 1906 2,005,593 Onions June 18, 1935 2,266,206Jackson Dec. 16, 1949 2,739,777 Schoenhardt Mar. 27, 1956 2,787,382Williams Apr. 2, 1957 2,788,902 Nowicki Apr. 16, 1957 2,872,049 SlaterFeb. 3, 1959 2,940,601 Smith June 14, 1960 2,966,967 Levy Jan. 3, 1961FOREIGN PATENTS 611,896 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1948 608,480 Great BritainSept. 15, 1948

